Johnny Quigley 1935-2004

Footballer John “Johnny” Quigleywas born 28th June, 1935 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland and died 30th November, 2004 in Nottingham, England. Johnny is best known for being a key player in Nottingham Forest’s historic 1959 F.A Cup win.

Johnny the son of a shipyard worker was brought up in Dunsmuir Street and attended St Saviours Primary school then later St Gerard’s Secondary school. He left school to take up an apprenticeship and at 18 years old was called up for National Service in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Johnny was soon playing for their football team.

He began his career as a provisional signing with Glasgow Celtic, who farmed him out to local Scottish Junior Football club St Anthony’s. After Celtic terminated his contract he joined another non-league club Ashfield FC, but was almost immediately signed by Nottingham Forest in July 1957, scoring 58 goals in 270 appearances in the 7 seasons he was there.

In 1958, he was the first Forest player to score a First Division post-war hat trick which was against Manchester City. His goal against Aston Villa at Hillsborough won the FA Cup semi final which insured Forest a place in the 1959 FA Cup Final which ended with a 2-1 win over Luton Town a game where he was also a key player.

He left Nottingham Forest for £18,000 in February 1965 for Huddersfield Town where he scored 5 goals in 68 appearances, in October 1966 he joined Bristol City where he made 66 appearances and scored 7 goals. He moved to Mansfield Town in July 1968 for £3,000, there Quigley was to enjoy the club’s arguably most famous moment when in 1969 they beat West Ham United, a team containing many of England’s World Cup heroes, 3-0 in the FA Cup, and progressed to the quarter final stage where they eventually lost to Leicester City. He made 104 appearances and scored 2 goals, he also captained the team and went on to be assistant player-manager/trainer-coach at Field Mill. He left in 1970 and went on to coach at Doncaster Rovers and also coached in the Middle East in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for five years. Overall in his professional career he made 508 appearances and scored 72 goals.

Johnny settled in Nottingham with his wife Faye and two sons Karl and Damone, however a proud Govan man Johnny was back on many occasions to visit family and friends.